More animals on airplanes are good

Delta Air Lines will be tightening requirements for passengers traveling with onboard service and emotional support animals, following an increased number of animal-related safety issues on flights over the last several years.
USA TODAY

Overall, more animals in airplane cabins is a good thing. The increase doesn’t mean only what people assume. More travelers are making mistakes, but more with disabilities are also getting the help they need to live their lives.

I agree there are problems that need solving: Well-reasoned restrictions balancing safety with disability rights are needed. But let’s not punish all people with disabilities for the mistakes of a headline-grabbing few. Life — let alone traveling — is hard enough for us.

I can’t engage in the world without a wheelchair. I’m fine with airlines asking whether my wheelchair battery is gel or spillable, a basic safety concern. I would not be fine with airlines requiring medical “proof” that I’m disabled, or special battery certification. The law is about removing access barriers, not erecting them.

Where’s the parallel? Service dogs, whether guide dogs or psychiatric service dogs, tend to be highly trained to go everywhere with their people. By definition, they’re also trained to do work or tasks for their disabled users.

In contrast, it’s not reasonable to expect all emotional support animals to behave on aircraft. ESAs are not trained to behave in no-pets places, even if the Transportation Department somehow expects them to be. ESAs don’t routinely visit demanding environments, slowly building mental shock absorbers before joining a stressful, captive crowd at 30,000 feet.

Yet airlines lump psychiatric service dogs with ESAs for worse treatment than other service dogs. Most folks neither understand the difference nor resist the prejudice. But we can address ignorance along with safety.

Perhaps ESAs should be in pet carriers, and all service animal users should self-attest to disability status and training in advance, when possible. But we should remember our loved ones’ rights and not be overcome by short-sighted fantasies of revenge on scofflaws. That hurts the people most in need while evasive fraudsters remain.

Brad Morris is director of government relations for Psychiatric Service Dog Partners.